Basiliká the works of King Charles the martyr : with a collection of declarations, treaties, and other papers concerning the differences betwixt His said Majesty and his two houses of Parliament : with the history of his life : as also of his tryal and martyrdome.

MDCXLI Decemb. 1. The House of Commons PETITION, and Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom: with his Majesties Answers.

The PETITION of the House of Commons which ac∣companied the Declaration of the state of the King∣dom, when it was presented to His MAJESTY at Hampton-Court.

Most Gracious Sovereign,

YOUR Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects, the Commoners in this present Parliament assembled, do with much thankfulness and joy acknow∣ledge the great mercy and favour of God, in giving Your Majesty a safe and peaceable return out of Scotland into Your Kingdom of England, where the pressing Dangers and Distempers of the State have caused us with much earnestness to desire the comfort of Your gracious presence, and likewise the Unity and Justice of your Royal Authority to give more life and power to the dutiful and loyal Counsels and Endeavours of Your Parliament, for the prevention of that immi∣nent Ruine and Destruction wherein Your Kingdoms of England and Scotland are threatned. The duty which we owe to Your Majesty and our Country cannot but make us very sensible and apprehensive, that the multiplicity, sharpness and malignity of those evils under which we have now many years suffered, are fomented and cherish∣ed by a corrupt and ill-affected party, who amongst other their mischievous devices for the alteration of Religion and Government, have sought by many false scandals and impu∣tations cunningly insinuated, and dispersed among the People, to blemish and disgrace our proceedings in this Parliament, and to get themselves a party and faction amongst Your Subjects, for the better strengthening of themselves in their wicked courses, and hindering those provisions and remedies which might by the Wisdom of Your Majesty and Counsel of Your Parliament be opposed against them.

For preventing whereof, and the better information of Your Majesty, Your Peers, and all other Your loyal Subjects, we have been necessitated to make a Declaration of the state of the Kingdom, both before and since the Assembly of this Parliament unto this time; which we do humbly present to Your Majesty without the least intention to lay

any blemish upon Your Royal Person, but only to represent how Your Royal Authority and trust have been abused, to the great prejudice and danger of Your Majesty and of all Your good Subjects.

And because we have reason to believe that those malignant parties, whose proceedings evidently appear to be mainly for the advantage and increase of Popery, are composed, set up, and acted by the subtile practice of the Jesuites and other Engineers and Factors for Rome, and to the great danger of this Kingdom, and most grievous affliction of Your loyal Subjects, have so far prevailed, as to corrupt divers of Your Bishops, and others in prime places of the Church, and also to bring divers of these Instruments to be of Your Privy Council and other employments of trust and nearness about your Majesty, the Prince and the rest of Your Royal Children;

And by this means have had such an operation in Your Council, and the most impor∣tant affairs and proceedings of Your Government, that a most dangerous division and chargeable preparation for War betwixt your Kingdoms of England and Scotland, the in∣crease of Jealousies betwixt Your Majesty and Your most obedient Subjects, the violent distraction and interruption of this Parliament, the Insurrection of the Papists in Your Kingdom of Ireland, and bloody Massacre of Your People, have been not only endea∣voured and attempted, but in a great measure compassed and effected:

For preventing the final accomplishment hereof, Your poor Subjects are enforced to ingage their Persons and Estates to the maintaining of a very expenceful and dangerous War, notwithstanding they have already, since the beginning of this Parliament under∣gone the charge of 150000. pounds sterling, or thereabouts, for the necessary support and supply of Your Majesty in these present and perillous Designs. And because all our most faithful endeavours and engagements will be ineffectual for the peace, safety, and preservation of Your Majesty and Your People, if some present, real, and effectual course be not taken for suppressing this wicked and malignant party, We Your most hum∣ble and obedient Subjects do with all faithfulness and humility beseech Your Majesty.

1. That You will be graciously pleased to concurre with the humble desires of Your People in a Parliamentary way, for the preserving the peace and safety of the Kingdom from the malicious designs of the Popish party.

For depriving the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament, and abridging their immode∣rate power usurped over the Clergy and other Your good Subjects, which they have most perniciously abused to the hazard of Religion, and great prejudice and oppression of the Laws of the Kingdom, and just Liberty of Your People.

For the taking away such oppressions in Religion, Church-Government and Discipline, as have been brought in and fomented by them.

For uniting all such Your loyal Subjects together, as joyn in the same Fundamental Truths against the Papists, by removing some oppressions and unnecessary Ceremonies, by which divers weak Consciences have been scrupled, and seem to be divided from the rest.

For the due execution of those good Laws which have been made for securing the Li∣berty of Your Subjects.

2. That Your Majesty will likewise be pleased to remove from Your Council all such as persist to favour and promote any of those Pressures and Corruptions wherewith Your People have been grieved; and that for the future Your Majesty will vouchsafe to em∣ploy such persons in Your great and publick Affairs, and to take such to be near You in places of trust, as Your Parliament may have cause to confide in; that in Your Prince∣ly Goodness to Your People, You will reject and refuse all mediation and solicitation to the contrary, how powerful and near soever.

3. That You will be pleased to forbear to alienate any of the forfeited and escheated Lands in Ireland which shall accrue to Your Crown by reason of this Rebellion, that out of them the Crown may be the better supported, and some satisfaction made to Your Sub∣jects of this Kingdom for the great expences they are like to undergo this War.

Which humble desires of ours being graciously fulfilled by Your Majesty, we will by the blessing and favour of God, most chearfully undergo the hazard and expences of this War, and apply our selves to such other courses and counsels as may support Your Royal Estate with Honour and Plenty at home, with Power and Reputation abroad, and by our Loyal Affections, Obedience and Service, lay a sure and lasting foundation of the Greatness and Prosperity of Your Majesty, and Your Royal Posterity in future times.